Part 39 (2/2)

”Because I told her who she was, and who you are; because she thinks you killed her rown too weak to inflict violent pain, theover what he saw in the trader's face

”Neverher back,” said Burrell, and laid a co hand on Gale's shoulder, for the fact that she was safe, the fact of knowing soed him into even blacker horror than the trader felt

”You won't want her if you catch her Runnion will see to that”

”Runnion!”

”Yes, I sent hiuish, and hid his face in his hands

”He's wanted her for a long tio ahead--”

None of them noticed Poleon Doret, who, upon this unnatural confession, alone seemed to retain sufficient control to doubt and to reason He was thinking hard, straightening out certain facts, and trying to square this horrible stateht All of a sudden he uttered a great cry, and bolted out into the darkness unheeded by Gale and Burrell, who stood dazed and distraught with a fear greater than that which was growing in Stark at sight of his wounds

The gaers of his hand as if to see whether he still maintained control of them, then cried out at the two helplessto let ht the soldier out of his trance

”Why--no, no! We'll get a doctor”

But Gale touched hiet out Lock hihtedly, for it is a terrible thing to bleed to death in the dark, and in spite of himself the Lieutenant wavered

”I can't do that I proave her to that hound,” said the trader, but Burrell shoved hih the door

”No! I can't do that” And then to the wounded et a doctor, but God have mercy on your soul” He could not trust himself to talk further with this creature, nor be near hiery, he would sooner have touched a loathsome serpent than the flesh of this monstrous man

He pushed Gale ahead of him, and the old man went like a driven beast, for his violence had wasted itself, and he was like a person under the spell of a strong drug At the doctor's door Burrell stopped

”I never thought to ask you,” he said, wearily; ”but you must be hurt?

He must have wounded you?”

”I reckon he did--I don't know” Then the ly, as he cried in despair: ”She believed hi like a sob caught in his throat, and he staggered away under the weight of his great bereavement

CHAPTER XVII

THE LOVE OF POLEON DORET